Thursday, 24 January 2013

I have to admit to being ever so slightly disappointed with his movie. Having started out so well, developing the characters, propelling the story forwards, the movie just seems to fall flat on it's face in the final act. That certainly isn't to say it is a bad movie. Let me explain myself a little more.

Stopped dead is a psycho road movie, and for the first half at least, is incredibly well done. There are very few framing issues, the cast is made up of people older than the usual 'teens in peril' movies indie horror seems to focus on so much (not that there's a problem with that), and the actors do amazing and believable jobs.

The plot follows two couples who take a road trip in an R.V. One of the characters, Bob, has been suffering from nightmares of infidelity which involve his best friend Dante and his wife, who both accompany him on the trip along with Dante's partner Minerva.

Bob takes a walk, and witnesses a group of bikers commit murder (or does he) and rushes back to the R.V and gets the hell out of there for fear of being killed.

All well and good so far, and it was incredibly gripping too. But, around the midway point, a reveal is made, and to me, it felt the move lost a lot of steam and became pretty routine. That isn't to take anything away from the director Jason Liquori or anyone else in the movie. I just felt the reveal was made too early, and the shifting of everyone's loyalty as things started happening made the movie feel rather sloppy, and a little hard to follow.

I would love to see the director make more movies, as he obviously has talent. It's just a shame this movie started off so well, only to fall into the same trappings as many micro budget movies do.

You can definitely tell there is talent involved, and this movie obviously had so much potential, it's just a shame it was squandered during the second half.

This movie definitely proved to me that Jason Liquori has what it takes to become an amazing film maker, but the second half shows that he is as capable of falling into the traps as anyone else who attempts this difficult craft.

Friday, 18 January 2013

Let me start off this review by saying a big Thank you to MJ Dixon and crew for crafting a British horror movie filled with suspense, scares and a really cold nihilistic feel.

Slasher House is Mycho pictures second feature (the first being Creepsville), and this film has everything a horror fan could ask for, and so much more!!

A young woman, who we know as Red, wakes up alone in a cell, disorientated. She notices notes around her cell instructing her to do things, and as her cell opens up, she realizes she is not alone.

She is joined by four other people. A young man name Nathan, who we know nothing about, and three brilliantly realized serial killers, the greatest of which has to be Thorn, whose sheer size and intensity has to be seen to be believed!!

The colours in the movie are so vibrant, so much so in fact, that it brings to mind Argento's Suspiria, with its use of red's and green's.

The movie also uses flashbacks to great effect, providing a back story to each of the killer's crimes, and believe me, it isn't pretty!

Everything about this film screams big budget, from the cinematography, to the acting. The make up must also get a mention, with the evil clown 'Cleaver' having the most creepy clown make up since Tim Curry played Pennywise.

The ending also has to be seen to be believed. Just when you think you have it all figured out, along comes a twist. Then again, you think you understand, and you get hit with another twist. Simply breathtaking.

If this is the future of indie horror, then there is no doubt we are all in capable hands. This film should be seen by one and all, and will not disappoint anyone who enjoys a good scary movie.

The editing is also incredibly jolting, and the soundtrack helps the movie along nicely, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

All that's left to say is Slasher House is a fresh take on the slasher genre, one that once more tries to show that it isn't all about the gore, that suspense works just as well as blood, and a movie that doesn't spell everything out for you at the start so you can switch off. It is fresh, scary, and incredibly well made.

Mycho pictures are currently preparing their next movie, Thorn, which, after considering his appearance in slasher house, is going to be truly amazing!!

If you want to watch Slaher House before it hits DVD/Blu ray, you can see it in the UK at the Horror on sea film festival at Southend on sea, Saturday 19th January. Heres the link so you can learn more about the fest.

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

I have just finished watching a short by the name of Fondue. All I can say is wow. Judging by the cinematography, the screeching soundtrack, and the images on screen, Torin Langen is destined for greatness.

Torin has been making horror films since the seventh grade, and around that time he started getting into Zombie movies and B movies. The next tree years were spent on a feature length zombie movie which he describes as "terrible", but a crash course in every aspect of movie making, as he carried out nearly every role; directing, editing, makeup effects and scoring.

From that point on, he told me that with the knowledge he had garnered from that production, he began making short films and submitting them to whatever festivals he could, which has led him to where he is now!

The movie I have just viewed, Fondue, came about because he had been working on alot of other peoples projects for several months before making a start on it. He came up with the overall structure of the film in an evening and began shooting it not that long after. As he viewer, he says he has become bored by traditional horror movie structures, and wanted to make something a bit more surreal and experimental, along the lines of 964 Pinocchio and the films of MagGot Films. Amazingly, the entire process of making the short only took around three months!

Now back to what I have just witnessed. The films look is very melancholic , and the musical cues are well timed and manage to put you on edge. The story is very well acted, and it does come across as surreal, almost fairytale like.

I am not going to give anything away about the story, as it would ruin the whole thing. What I can say is I enjoyed it, and that I am sure Torin Langen is a name to watch out for in the future of horror!

Tuesday, 15 January 2013

I thought that today, I would make an attempt to open more horror fans eyes to an indie company from the UK called Mycho entertainment group. Just take a look at these trailers for a look at what they create.

How awesome do they look?

The company makes low budget indie horror movies, but also music videos for bands and artists. Company founder MJ Dixon has been running the company for ten years more or less single handedly , and has produces award winning material in the past.

Saturday, 12 January 2013

Here we go with the second part of the list!! Check these out if you like to think all Indie horror is handycam, backyard trash! Indie horror isn't only movies that are made in the backyards of wannabe horror directors, so why label it as such. You can't use an umbrella term like Indie horror, when there are so many good Indie horror movies out there. It just doesn't make sense!! People are discounting some amazing horror movies weather they like to admit it or not (and I'm sure they won't). There are bad and good things in all areas, so lets get a life, stop with the hating and concentrate on the good stuff!! But, you should also remember, movies are subjective, so one persons gold is another persons shit!! Anyway, on with the list.

My name is Bruce (2007).

Bruce Campbell stars and directs this movie, playing an over exaggerated version of himself who is kidnapped to fight an ancient evil!! Laughs, scares and rolling heads aplenty, and lots of cameos from people who were in the Evil dead movies. The theme song is catchy as hell too!

Satans little helper (2004).

A sometimes hilarious throwback to the slasher films of yore (that's the late 70's/early 80's for all of you who don't know) this movie features some great kills, a great villain and the ending is beyond creepy!! One for a Saturday night in with a lot of alcohol!

Home sick (2007).

Made with a very small budget, although you certainly wouldn't know from the acting and FX, a man turns up to a party carrying a suitcase, and asks each of the party goers to name someone they hate, before he kills each one of those people named. Buckets of blood, and the ever Awesome Bill Mosely make this one to watch again and again.

Feast (2005).

I know this movie is hated by a lot of people, but I thought it was a good old monster movie with lashings of gore, a high body count and it had the energy of something made back in the 70's. A bar is attacked by monsters. That's pretty much the plot in a nutshell. It really has everything you want from a movie. Beautiful women, monsters, gore, a cameo by Jason Mewes, and buckets of maggot ridden vomit!!!

Colin (2008).

Shot on a budget of £35.00, Colin tells the story of Colin (who didn't see that coming) who is attacked and bitten by a zombie. We follow him as he slowly turns into one of the undead. Incredibly emotional and powerful, the whole movie rises above its tiny budget and creates a new kind of Zombie movie. This movie shows how far you can go with imagination, talent and will and very little money!

Let the right one in (2008).

Ignore the polished turd that was 2010's remake, the original is much more character driven, emotional and just about better in every way! A young loner meets up with a strange young girl, and as their friendship blossoms, he learns something that will change his life forever. Creepy in every sense of the word, but beautifully shot. One of the greatest vampire movies in existence.

The house of the Devil (2009).

Ti West's third feature cements his slow build technique he continued with The innkeepers. The movie comes across as though it was made in the 80's. It is incredibly suspenseful, and the ending has to be seen to be believed. Gritty, brutal and beautiful, all at the same time. If you have yet to check this out, what are you waiting for?

Something is going on in a Cornish tin mine. Peter Blood (Keiron Moore) is experimenting with the dead, attempting to bring them back to life. He uses Curare (an african poison used on the tip of arrows) to remove the still beating hearts from people he feels are not fit to live in order to bring others back to the land of the living.

Directed by the same person that bought us the Incubus themed classic The Entity, Sidney J. Furie, this movie has a definite Frankenstein flavor about it. The experiments the young Doctor Blood mentions are only vaguely referred to through the first half of the movie, and it moves along at a rather slow pace, choosing more to concentrate on the relationship between Doctor Blood and his father's nurse, Linda Parker than on sinister experiments and the collection of body parts.

The performances make this move feel incredibly slow. There doesn't seem to be any feeling or passion from any of the actor persons involved, apart from Hazel Court who plays Linda Parker, in the final scenes of the movie, but that could be due to a lackluster script or half hearted direction. Nevertheless, it doesn't seem like any of the actor persons hearts are in this movie. No pun intended.

A couple of Medical operation scenes near the end of the movie, and the introduction of a monster do help the movie along, but in all honesty, it's too little too late. All in all it comes across as no more than a half hearted rehash of Frankenstein, albeit with more romance, and less monster.

One for genre completists only, and something that certainly doesn't warrant repeat viewings. Stick with Hammer. They do it so much better.

Thursday, 10 January 2013

Here we have a classic in horror cinema. The awesome José Mojica Marins brings his Horrific blasphemous creation to life in the fantastical A meia-noite levarei sua alma (At midnight I'll take your soul).

His character, Zé do Caixão (coffin joe) is a blasphemous man with a distaste for all religion and emotion. He is looking for the perfect woman to continue his bloodline, his idea of immortality.

At the beginning of the movie, Zé finds out his wife cannot have children, and begins making advances towards his best friends fiancée, Terezinha. She rebuffs his advances, which then plunges her and her fiancée into danger.

This movie has such a dark atmosphere. The intro alone is enough to chill the blood with Zé do Caixão's ideals being the focal point and introduction to the characters flawed philosophy.

For a movie made in 1964, a lot of taboo subjects were covered. Rape, blasphemy and the beating of women. Not forgetting the torture scene involving a live tarantula!!

There are also a couple of scenes of gore, and although it looks cheap, it still comes across as shocking, even today.

In my opinion, Coffin Joe is the greatest horror icon you never knew.Decked out in his black cape and top hat, with his terribly long and razor sharp fingernails making him instantly recognizable.

This movie is groundbreaking in every possible way, epitomizing everything that should be in a great horror film eg. a scary villain, amazing sets (which were all apparently one room dressed to look differently), inventive cinematography that brings Bava to mind, and some brutal gore scenes. Wasn't that something back in 1964??

The movie is also incredibly honest in every sense of the word. Coffin Joe broke all the rules, attacking religion, his graphic depictions of violence and his inability to take no for an answer, his will knowing no bounds.

Any horror fans out there that have yet to discover the deliriously crazy world of Coffin Joe are in for such a treat. The film is truly atmospheric, and it stays with you long after viewing. It is also way ahead of it's time. At midnight I'll take your soul is a horror film buffs dream (or should that be nightmare) come true, and is essential viewing. Coffin Joe is without a doubt one of the unrecognized greats of horror cinema, and everyone in the world should without a doubt recognize the name José Mojica Marins.

This movie is the firs part of a trilogy, which continues with "This night I'll posses your corpse" and "Embodiment of evil", both of which I will be reviewing in the future. If you have yet to experience Coffin Joe, what are you waiting for??

Tuesday, 8 January 2013

Yes, contrary to what many of you out there think, there are many Indie horror movies out there that aren't shot on handy cam, made by Troma, Toetag or Full Moon. So I thought I'd write a list detailing some of these for your enjoyment!!

Splinter ( 2008 ) .

Four people are trapped in a gas station by a creepy splinter parasite that transforms Its still living victims into deadly hosts. Pretty much a one location movie (apart from the first fifteen minutes or so). The whole movie is claustrophobic and has such a tense atmosphere It's sure to please. Plus the creature (what you see of it) looks amazing!

Jacob's ladder ( 1990 ) .

I really can't tell you much about this dark nightmarish movie for fear of giving something away. This movie plays on dreams and nightmares, is incredibly intelligent and looks amazing. The demons are rather disturbing too. There is also a conspiracy mixed in with all the supernatural goings on and the ending lets you make up your own mind, instead of spelling everything out for you.

Ginger Snaps ( 2000 ) .

Another incredibly intelligent independent movie. One of the Fitzgerald sisters, who are both outcasts in their town, is bitten by something while they are out in the woods. This is also the day that she has her first period. Her sister tries desperately to help her before Halloween (and the next full moon) arrives. An incredibly heartfelt commentary on how puberty turns us from children into slathering beasts, this film looks beautiful and has everything a good lycanthrope movie should have!

Kill list ( 2011 ) .

A British horror movie, and one that certainly blew me away on first viewing. A year after a he messes a job up, a hit man takes a new assignment with the promise of a big payoff for killing three people. The movie does an amazing job of creating suspense and it certainly makes your jaw hit the floor in the final act, and the violence is brutal as hell. It's one of those movies that manages to burrow into your mind, and sits there for days afterwards making you wonder what you just experienced.

Fido ( 2007 ) .

A zombie horror movie, this time starring comedian Billy Connolly as a zombie named Fido who is a little boys best friend, but after his zombie friend eats the neighbour things start to go awry. This movie is funny and a pretty savage commentary on 50's America, where instead of black slaves, people have zombies (who are controlled with collars). An amazing performance by Billy Connolly and a happy ending make this one incredibly different.

Red , white and blue ( 2010 ) .

This is one sick movie. Erica is cold and emotionless and happens to sleep with any man she can. She befriends a war veteran named Nate and gets a job working at the same place as him, but still sleeps with pretty much everyone there except for Nate. One of her one night stands finds out he has HIV and is sure he caught it from Erica. What happens from there on in is one seriously sick and twisted ride, coming across as more sickening than the home invasion scene in Henry:Portrait of a serial killer. The film manages to cross many genres beginning as a morality tale before moving into the realms of social realism before becoming a sick and twisted horror movie.

Stakeland ( 2010 ) .

A vampire hunter by the name of Mister takes in a boy called Martin (surely a reference to George Romero's movie) as America falls around them. This is an incredibly emotional movie and it takes you on such a journey, it really is hard not to enjoy it. The whole movie is directed well, looks beautiful and the vampires are actually scary!! It is also incredibly hard to guess where the story will go next.

The woman ( 2011 ) .

The amazing Lucky McKee (May, The woods, both of which are also independent movies, Masters of horror's Sick girl) brings us a companion piece to the movie Offspring (again, an independent horror movie). A country lawyer captures a feral woman and attempts to civilize her, but little does he know that with him keeping the woman so close to his home, his whole family are in danger. This film shows some sickening behavior and again, is a very beautiful and well shot film with a killer story to boot. I have never been disappointed with a Lucky McKee movie, and here he continues to take us on a trip where not one of us can see where we are going. Breathtaking.

Sunday, 6 January 2013

I have been meaning to review this for ages, but having been struck down with yet another illness I haven't really had the energy to watch anything at all.

I managed to finally view Doug Roos The sky has fallen last night and I must say I was incredibly impressed.

First of all, the movie is an independent horror movie. Secondly, it contains no CGI whatsoever!! All the FX in the movie are practical. The zombie makeup is first class, bringing back memories of Gianetto De Rossi's zombies in Lucio Fulci's Zombi 2.

The creature make up is also incredibly well realised, and also very effective!!!

Indie horror is where ingenuity, creativity and a gritty determination to succeed still lives. This film showcases every one of those things and more!!

The story tells of a new disease that within a couple of hours, has wiped out nearly all of mankind. People are fleeing to remote locations to avoid the infection. They begin seeing mysterious black figures carrying the dead away and experimenting on them. It is down to Lance and Rachel to kill the leader of these creatures before humanity is wiped out forever!!

Another thing worth mentioning about this movie is that most of the shots are tight close ups. This really accentuates the loneliness of the two main characters and really adds to the creepiness of the movie too.

There is a lot of dialogue, but it is broken up well with nightmarish scenes of violence and splatter and it moves the story along nicely, developing the characters of Lance and Rachel nicely and making you really care for them.

All in all, The sky has fallen is an incredibly thought provoking and emotional piece of cinema, showing great talent in both storytelling and FX. A haunting and disturbing movie that should please every horror fan out there!!! Go see it!!!